Just Do It

“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.' "

Luke 17:7-10  


Are you aware of the fact that action most often precedes motivation. If you receive that and apply it in your life it just might prove to be the single greatest factor in helping you experience positive change in 2020. Have you ever been accused of ‘over thinking’ something to the point that you talked yourself out of doing whatever it was you were considering doing? Most of us have. Nike came up with a slogan years ago that has impacted the world and not just the sports world with the simple admonishment “Just Do It.” Behavioral Scientists have learned that often times if a person will just do what it is they are contemplating to do, the motivation to continue to do so will follow. Its like the old saying I use with all our grandkids when attempting to get them to try something new. It might be food, an activity, obviously something they have never experienced before. I will simply say, “You won’t know until you try”. Sometimes it works and other times they won’t budge. Which proves another point, “convince a person against their will and they are of the same opinion still.”

Long before Nike coined the phrase “Just Do It” Jesus Christ was pretty much telling His disciples the exact same thing when it comes to issues of faith. Jesus would give clear instructions to His followers and some would immediately “Just Do It” as He said while others would begin to think about it and consider his teaching trying to determine what was in it for them. Others would doubt Jesus words all together and do absolutely nothing. James, the half brother of Jesus (who knew from personal experience) said in the book of the Bible bearing his name, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-8). Why you might ask? Hebrews 11:6 provides the answer, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). In short, God is a rewarder of those who don’t question Him but who trust Him and “Just Do It.”

Do you lack motivation today, loved one? If so just know you are not alone. I was reading an article from a Hospice nurse the other day who said most people she dealt with in their dying days would express their regrets. We all have them. What she found interesting over the years was that the majority of people didn’t regret the things they had done but rather the things they didn’t do. Maybe they just lacked motivation? Try this next time you have a goal or project or sense the Lord prompting you to take a step of faith. Don’t think about it, “Just Do It”. Take immediate action and see for yourself if the motivation to continue follows close behind. You might be surprised how simple it really is. Like the writer of Hebrews declared once again,

 
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1


I LOVE YOU!